Winfield Hall
Suite-Style
Housing
Designed to encourage connection and engagement, Southwestern College's new suite-style residence hall signifies a historic investment in the student experience and the future of the college.
Following tremendous enrollment growth, Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, decided it was time to invest in expanding its housing offerings. In 2021, the college partnered with RDG Planning & Design to initiate the design for an entirely new residence hall to not only address the school's growing occupancy needs but also to enhance the experience for students living on campus. The three-story, 29,000-SF residence hall offers suite-style living for sophomores and juniors and incorporates multiple common gathering areas and a new fitness space.
RDG's process started by engaging students and staff to gain input and understand how the residence hall could meet the evolving needs of current and future residents. The resulting design reduces the size of private suite bedrooms to accommodate more amenity spaces where students can socialize and connect. These spaces, which include shared lounges and kitchenettes, technology-rich learning commons and a campus-wide fitness room, foster a sense of connection and impromptu engagement by encouraging people to come out of their rooms and mingle with one another. The study, lounge and learning commons areas are each situated on the corners of the building, offering ample natural light and views of the outdoors. The project adds 92 beds within the resident suites, ADA resident suites, resident assistant suite beds and a resident director’s suite.
RDG was also selected to provide FF&E planning & procurement for the common areas of the residence hall. RDG collaborated with the college to select furniture to support quiet study, group collaboration and social interactions. The intent was to offer a variety of seating types to satisfy various needs and preferences students seek today with the flexibility to accommodate future wants. A fresh color palette of textural solids and splashes of bold patterns keeps the overall aesthetic timeless and incorporates the school colors into a soft palette of neutrals. RDG provided all selections, specifications, procurement and installation services to make this FF&E package a reality.
Located on the south side of Warren Avenue, across from Stewart Field House, the building's exterior L-shaped design creates a plaza that offers a mix of working and leisure spaces, with tables and chairs where students can focus on coursework and green spaces for students to engage in outdoor activities. The residence hall's exterior finish incorporates locally produced Kansas limestone block veneer, a material used on many of the buildings across campus, allowing the new structure to fit seamlessly into the existing campus aesthetic. The project, including plans for a much-needed 58-stall parking lot, was funded entirely by an $11.66 million financing package through the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Community Facilities direct loan program.